Wall alignment apparatus



June 16, 1953 ML ZENO WALL ALIGNMENT APPARATUS Filed Feb. 14, 1950 F ig-l f INVEN TOR.

" BY W /m,

Manuel Zena i a n A.

Patented June 16, 1953 VUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I .ManuelZeno, Santurce, P. R. Application February 14, 1950, Serial No. 144,153

This invention relates to the class of masonry and concrete structures, and more particularly to an apparatus for use when constructing a wall of concrete blocks or cement aggregate blocks, the apparatus being especially adaptable for use in obtaining a true vertical'surface for the masonry Wallparatus for properly lining up building blocks so as to enable them to be constructed into a masonry wall in a true vertical surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wall alignment apparatus which will have an alignment memberhaving a straight edge,,which alignmentmember can be raised or lowered readily and which will remain horizontal and plumb after the apparatus has once been set up and truedwithout the necessity of a-truing operation whenever the straight edge is raised or lowered.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wall alignment apparatus which'is readily portable and may be moved from onelocation to another in a manner similar to that of pushing a Wheelbarrow.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a wall alignment apparatus that is strong, durable, highly efiicient in operation, simple in construction and manufacture, capable of aiding in the construction of a wall with true vertical surfaces, provided with a shelf for raising and lowering building blocks, and which is relatively inexpensive.

These, together with the various ancillary objects of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this wall alignment apparatus, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wall alignment apparatus shown in operative use while constructing a masonry wall;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view as taken along line 2-2 in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a sectional detail as taken along line 3-3 in Figure l and showing the means for maintaining the aligning member of the present invention in horizontal plane.

With continued reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral Ill generally designates the alignment apparatus comprising the present invention. This wall alignment apparatus provides an aid to the mason or bricklayer in truing the An object of the invention is to provide an ap- 1 Claim. (01. 3385) beam or bar Iii.

vertical walls of the building or structure on which he is working.

As shown in the drawings, the device is especially adaptable for use in making masonrywalls from concrete building blocks or other cement aggregate blocks.

The wall alignment apparatus Ill comprises a pair of vertical standards I 2 and I4 placed in parallel vertical relation to each other and secured together at their upper ends by a horizontal The'standards l2 and M are supported on a substantially rectangular or square base frame which is composed of members 3,20, 22 and 24. Journaled in the member i 8 is a pair of wheels 26 and 28 for aiding in the transportation of the wall alignment apparatus from one location to another. Theapparatus becomes portable by merely lifting the member 22 and pushing the entire apparatus forward, the apparatus thus acting in the manner of a wheelbarrow.

A pair of rigidifying beams 30 and 32 secure members 18 and 22 and extend transversely between them and abut the standards i 2 and M, respectively. A pair of bracing members 34 and 36 are terminally secured to the standards I 2 and I4 and the beams 30 and 32 respectively. A further rigidifying element 38 extends transversely between the beams 30 and 32 and abuts against the braces 34 and. 36.

Secured to the member 22 at each end thereof are bearing nuts 40 and 42 within which leveling screws or legs having suitable ground-engaging and handle means thereon are threadedly emplaced. The screws are designated by reference numerals 44 and 46. I

Threadedly engaged in the center of the beam 16 is a hook 48 which supports a pulley wheel 58 of conventional design. A hook 52 is secured to member [8 in a position eccentrically disposed from the center of the member I8- Secured to the hook in a detachable manner is one end of a cable which is passed through the pulley wheel 50. The cable is designated by reference numeral 54, and may be readily made from manila or hemp or other suitable material, as desired. The other end of the cable 54 is secured on a hook 56 which is bolted to a shelf plate 58 which-forms one part of the aligning member. The plate 58 abuts against and is secured to a vertical aligning plate 60 which is adapted to be the vertical guide for the building blocks. Secured to the plate 60 and extending inwardly therefrom are two sets of two opposed pairs of, embracing lugs or guides 62 and 64 which embrace the standards I 2 and I4. As the aligning member is raised or lowered by means of the cable and the pulley wheel58 and when in engagement with the masonry wall, the plate 58 will abut against a vertical surface of the posts and the embracing lugs will prevent rotation of the plate relative to the horizontal and to the standard centers l2 and 14. Because of the offset of the cable 54, the aligning member may be more readily controlled. It is to be noted that the building blocks may be raised by shelf plate 58 so as to be readily available tothe mason using the invention.

In operation, the wall aligning apparatus is placed in front of the outside face of the wall which it is desired to be constructedandis prop. erly adjusted and anchored so as to level the frame. The aligning member is lowered to the base of the frame and is adjusted so that its surface will be flush with the outside of the first layer of building blocks. As the courses o'fblocks are laid, they are pushed against the plate 60 of the aligning member and thus will be automatically aligned in a correct location. When the second'courseof blocksisabout to be. placed, the

aligning member is raised the desired amount and the-blocks are then pushed against-it. This operation is repeated with every course of building' blocks.

It-is obvious from the operation and-construction ofthi-s wall aligning apparatus that the plate 60 will move in a true vertical-plane flush with the outside face of a vertical wall. Since the building blocks are always laid in direct contact with-the plate 68,the result will be a wall of true verticality and perfect horizontal alignment.

Since, from theforegoing, the construction and advantages of this wall alignment apparatus are readily apparent, further description is-believed to be unncessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in theartafter'a consideration of the foregoing specification and acompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents, such as changes in size and shape or material, may be readily resorted to which fall Within the scope of th appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 152 A block wall alignment apparatus comprising a horizontalbase frame for positioning adjacent a wall, uprights'rising from the forward end portion of said frame, a bar extending between the 'upper portions of said uprights, a pulley mounted on said bar, a straight edge engageable with the wall and including guides slidably engaged with the-uprights, a cable trained over the pulley and connected to the straight edge for adjusting same verticaly on the uprights, supporting wheels journale'd on said forward end portions of the frame, and leveling legs threadedly mounted on the rear end portion of the frame for adjusting the-straight-edge toward'or aW-ay fromthewall.

MANUEL ZENO.

References Cited'in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

